Ribbon frame



July 14,' 1931. C. w. GREEN 1,815,026

RIBBON FRAME Filed Jan. 24, 1929 att-omeql Patented July 14, 1931v UNITED STATES `PALEN-fl .OFFICE CHARLES W. GREEN, OFILION, NEWl YORK, ASSIGOR TO `RIVIIN(lr'lON ARMS COMPANY;

l rndfaconroaaron or DELAWARE RIBBON FRAME.

Application.v filed January 24, 1929. Serial No. 334,'2'43` This invention relates to ribbon frames,-

andthe embodiment selected for the purpose of illustration is particularly adapted for use in printing mechanisms for cash registers, although it is susceptible of ready adaptation for use in other types of accounting or print-V ing machines and analogous devices.

This application is a continuation in `part of the application of Charles lV. Green, Serial No.' 13,470, iledMarch 6, 1925, to which application reference may be had for` a com-` plete disclosure ofthe cash register mechanism and other devices not herein shown.

In printingmechanisms, as for example that lillustrated in the parent application, Where impressions are taken from a number of sets of type wheels by actuating a printer frame, it necessary to provide a plurality of strips ofjinling ribbon so thatJ impressions may be taken simultaneously therefrom. Again, when it is desired to print from only certain of said sets of type wheels, the ribbon frame for the type wheels not to be employed must be removed from' the printer and the c printing of proper data would thenibeinsured. It is believed to be quite revident that if the usual step feed ribbonvmechanismwere em-` loVed the task of removing the same from` p :e

the y:machine `would be 'laboriousand cause great inconvenience to the operator of the machine. This would be especially apparent where such changes must be leffected at fre` quent intervals. On the other hand, for example7 where totals or other data are printed `at infrequent intervals,`the ribbon employed for such printing remains eiicientfor a long period, and consequently the use of av step feed ribbon mechanism in such ca ses is noteonly impracticable` but would render the machine.

the ribbon frame on line 6-6 of Fig. 3. f

cumbersome and ineffiicent because ofthe number of parts usually contained in, such devices. y l

It is an object of this invention to overcome suchdifficulties, and applicant has pro'- vided an efficient ribbon mechanism which comprisesv a thinflat frame for retaining a strip of inling ribbon and which may be readily placed in the printing frame or re-i moved therefrom without necessitating the dissem'bling of any of the parts, or requiring the operator to touch the ribbon itself. Another object of my inventionis to provide aribbon framevwhich is'simple in construction and which may be manufactured at a small cost, so that in installations Where the ribbon would receive excessive use and thereby require replacement more frequently the cost ofoperation would, still be slight. e

` Avmore specific objectof my invention is 'to provideas anv article of manufacture a ribbon frame of sheetinetal or other material having similarproperties so that'theY same maybe stamped out in blank form and then vbent into its proper shape for retaining the ribbon in the desired position.

Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent as the description thereof progresses'. @ne construction by which the ,desired results are obtained isillustrated `by the`V accompanying drawings in which: y

' `Fig. 'l is a side elevation of the printing mechanism shown in the parentapplication with parts broken away and showing one of the ribbon frames in place between the guides in the printing mechanism. l

f Fig. 2 is an elevation'viewof a portion of the printer frame and showing one of the ribbon frames partly inserted in said printer frame; y i

Fig. 3 is an assembly view of my improved ribbon frame. Y Y n Fig. l is a plan viewof the frame structure vas it appears before being bent in position toretain the inking ribbon therein.`

Fig. 5 is an end View of the ribbon framey showing how the frame is bent'to grip the inking ribbon; Y

6-is a crossfsection view talrenthrough tegral with the cross-bar or frame piece 34. Journalled in the side plates and 31 at their upper portions is a shaft 36 forming the pivotal point of a platen 37 carrying upper and lowerV rubber impression blocks 38 and 39 respectively. The ribbon support-ing plates are comprised of two parallel plates 41 and 42 which may be attached to each other by any suitable means, such as bent-over lugs 43, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. By mea-ns of springs, not shown, the ribbon supporting plates 41 and 42 are forced away from the rear face of the platen to the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein it will be noted that there s normally a considerable clearance space be` tween the-plate 42 and the face of the impression blocks 38 and 39. This facilitates the insertion of the paper strip to be' printed upon. v

It will also be noted from an inspection of Fig. l that the supporting plates 41 and 42 are suitably bent so as to form channels 49 located just beneath the impression blocks 38 and 39 ,for the reception of a ribbon carrying f frame or plate 50, and the plates 41, 42 are apertured at 51 so as not to interfere with the printing action when the printer frame is rocked.` Y

The printing frame also carries a supply roll 62 of record paper which when unwound therefrom is suitably guided between the plate 42 and the impression members 38 and 39 aforesaid. Thus, to make an imprint on the same the operator merely depresses the button 74 which causes the printing frame to rock about its pivot 32 and the platen when striking the type carriers 23 and 25 will effect an imprint on the said record paper.

The specific construction of the printing mechanism shown herein forms no part of this invention and therefore will not be described in detail..V For a complete description thereof reference may be had either to the parent application or to an aplication of Charles lV. Green, Serial No. 151,293, filed November 29, 1926.

Referring to the structure shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the -numeralz'i() designates .generally the ribbon frame comprising nays-invention.

This frame is constructed from a single piece ofmetal having sufficient ductilityito permit ,bending of the same without rupture. This frame, however, may also be constructed from any suitable material other than metal. The franie() embraces a strip of inking material which may be composed ofthe usual ink carrying fabric such as that used in typewriters or other similar devices or may be composed of carbon paper or any other suitable ink carrying material. The frame proper vbeing comprised of a single piece `of material and is of such Vform that it may be stamped out` from a Hat pieceof material. In Fig. 4 the frame isshown inblank 'form and Vis of substantiallyY I shaped constructhat when the frame is bent in the manner shown in Fig. 5 the frame will finally assume the shape shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of two overlying rectangular portions with corresponding slots 52 therein. This construction permits the detachment of an old ribbon Vfrom the printer and the insertion of a new one without touching the moistened ribbon itself. There is a ribbon frame for each printing line so that each may be removed or lreplaced independently of each other. Then it is desired not to print the information set up on a cert-ain line 'of type vthis can readily be done by removing the associated ribbon.

The specific embodiment of my invention as disclosed herein constitutes but one of the many forms in which the said article may be constructed. For example, under cert-ain conditions it may be desirable to provide a ribbon frame having a different geometric shape, and the means for retaining the same may be slightly altered to correspond with such change in shape. Therefore, it is to be understood that the applicant is not limiting himself to the specific means shown herein, but the invention is adapted to fulfil the objects primarily stated, all coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

f 1. As a newV article of manufacture, a reinforcing member of substantially I-shaped formY when in blank construction and having a lonigtudinally disposed opening therein, ink carrying material disposed along said member, said'reinforcing member provided with prongs, said member being adapted to be so bent that it grips the said ink carrying material about its periphery and assumes a rectangular shape exposing said ink carrying material'onboth sides thereof.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a re- CHARLES VJ. GREEN. 

